The Valparaiso women’s tennis team opened its 2013 fall schedule at the Ball State Invitational on Friday. The Invitational was held at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. at the Cardinal Creek Tennis Center. Twelve schools, including Valparaiso, sent participants to the invitational. ArkansasState, Butler, Chicago State, Cleveland State, Eastern Kentucky, Illinois State, IUPUI, Miami (Ohio) University, Notre Dame, and Wright State all had participants at the event.

Kristin Zakiewicz (Bristol, Ind./Northridge) saw action in the singles A flight for the Crusaders. Zakiewicz fell 6-0, 6-0 to Courtney Wild of Ball State and 6-4, 6-2 to Kirsa Utech of Chicago State.

Paige Heuer (Munster, Ind./Munster) and Kaitlyn Hamel (Lakewood, Colo./Green Mountain) competed for Valpo in the C flight. In three matches each, Heuer and Hamel were unable to take a match. In Hamel’s second match, she was able to force the first set 7-6(2) but was unable to take the match.

In the D flight, Michele Fredlake (South Bend, Ind./Saint Joseph’s) and Megan Barthels (Grand Rapids, Mich./Catholic Central) saw actionfor the Crusaders. Neither competitor was able to take a match, however. In the E Flight, Morgan Paras (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) and Angelina Goheen (Aurora, Ill./Rosary)represented the Crusaders. Paras was able to win her first match against Erin Kanii of Ball State 5-7, 6-1, 6-2. Aubree Zdanovec (Appleton, Wis./East) played in the round robin tournament for the Crusaders.

In the A flight of the doubles competition, Hamel/Heuer and Zakiewicz/Fredlake took the court for Valpo. Neither duo was able to take a match. Hamel/Heuer were defeat 8-1 by Nowland/Slijepcevic of Arkansas State, and 8-1 to Cloern/Turner of Wright State. Zakiewicz/Fredlake would lose their matchup to Thurman//Raymond of Miami (Ohio) 8-1.

The double B flight saw pairings of Zdanovec/Paras and Barthels/Goheen. Neither pairing was able to take a match. Barthels/Goheen were, however, able to take Mountford/Roberts of Notre Dame to the limit, but would eventually fall 8-6.

The Crusader women are back in action this Monday, as the team welcomes Robert Morris (Ill.) to the Valpo Tennis Complex. Play is set to begin at 2:30 p.m.